Bodacious Window Boxes

I have long been attracted to window boxes and plan on adding a large one under my front window this year.   I've been shopping online to find just the right one.

The window boxes at Butchart Gardens are the most  bodacious flower boxes I've ever seen.  When we visited the garden in  July the flowers were at peak bloom. 

The combinations of flowers and size of the boxes are just breathtaking!    

I have some french wire flower baskets that hang under the back windows of my home and on the brick wall outside my kitchen window.   They provide a sweet little spot of color and I enjoy changing the combinations each year.

The window boxes at Butchart are my inspiration and maybe someday I can replicate just one of them!

I can't wait until after April 1st (our last frost date) to plant my wire baskets again.  I try to find bright color combos and plants that work well together for light and watering.

They just make me happy!

Don't you just love window boxes?

May Flowers

All the rain has just been wonderful for the landscape.  We have had twice the normal amount of rainfall for this time of year and the Lake Hefner is nearing normal levels again.

We just got home from a trip and this morning I took a garden walk to see what was blooming in the garden.

I love these oakleaf hydrangeas, so easy to grow and they bloom every year no matter how cold and snowy 

our winter has been.

I wish I had planted more years ago, but so happy to have a mature shrub to enjoy now.

The privet is full of bees and American Painted Lady butterflies.  I love how they smell and how pretty they are in full bloom.   I can always count on them to be full of 

painted ladies this time of year. 

Window boxes on the shady side of the house are blooming nicely but still have lots of growing to do.

Always fun to go on a trip but I love returning home

 to my garden.

                      

Almost France

Our recent trip to California took us along the Pacific Coast Highway down to Avila Beach and just a few miles from San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach.   We stayed in a condo overlooking the ocean at Avila and on this day trip we decided to explore downtown San Luis Obispo and have lunch at the Splash Cafe.    There are several locations of the Splash Cafe and we highly recommend the clam chowder...pure heaven in a bowl!

It was serendipity to find the cutest inn right 

next door to the cafe. 

The inn looked liked it belonged in the 

countryside of Provence.  

After lunch we walked next door so I could take a closer look and get a few pictures of Petit Soleil.   

The enormous gate looked old and heavy and 

 I loved everything about the exterior especially 

the window boxes full of geraniums. 

More window box love....

Oh how I wished I could fit one of those babies in

 my suitcase!

I love the vibrant Provencal colors. 

The courtyard had an old bicycle and beautiful 

potted plants.  

A flower cart filled with pots.

 Parked right out front was the inn's shuttle bus. 

What a fun ride...when I was a teenager my Dad bought a VW mini-bus and our family thought we were so cool!  I still remember the sound it made.   

I did check out the website and the rooms are lovely and the prices seem quite reasonable.  

Clam Chowder with crab and shrimp topping...oh my! 

If you are in the area the Splash Cafe is very addictive and hands down the best clam chowder I've ever had.  The bonus

 is right next door you're 

almost in France!

   

I'm linking with:

Smiling Sally's Blue Monday